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The Russians began to drink less because of lack of money: found a replacement

Over the past five years, Russia has significantly reduced the consumption of alcohol, found researchers from the Institute of social analysis and forecasting Ranhigs. In 2017 through the retail network was sold for 43 percent less vodka than in 2012, beer sales fell during the same period by 33%. In 2016, the sale of alcohol was also higher than in 2017: vodka sold is 10% more beer at 12%.

photo: Mikhail Kovalev

“Reducing alcohol consumption is considered to be the result of accelerated growth of excises on alcoholic production, centralization of production and the shift of preferences of the younger generation in favor of beer and low-alcohol products,” – explained the cause of “sobriety” Russian researchers Ranepa. They noted that during the economic downturn of 2008-2012 alcohol consumption is also decreased and make the analogy to the current situation, when after the crisis 2014-2016 fell, real income and alcohol prices while grow: last year alone, they rose by 2.5%.

However, as found in the Ranepa, the decline in drinking alcohol, which the Russians did not have enough money, it turned into a decrease in mortality due to alcohol poisoning: in 2017 for this reason, Russia died 6789 people, it is 1494 people, or 18% less than in 2016.

At the same time, the head of the Center of researches Federal and regional alcohol markets (tsifrra) Vadim Drobiz is convinced that in fact can not drink alcohol the inhabitants of the country have not diminished: instead of legal products, which is counted by Rosstat, Russians drink counterfeit. “Surrogates are sold 2-4 times cheaper in the illegal retail and over the past 5-10 there was a huge flow of consumers for such products, although a small reduction in alcohol consumption is still fixed. Mainly due to the beer market: he began to drink less, but only due to the fact that in recent years because of the demographic hole in the country has significantly reduced the number of young people — the main consumers of foam – said the expert.